Yesterday I read an article with the eye grabbing headline of ‘Ranger ban players from twitter”.  It was a headline that grabbed my attention and took my mind back to similar headlines that flashed across our screens in 2010.

It originated from a Daily Record article discussing what had gone on in the dressing room after Rangers recent humiliating defeat by arch rivals Celtic.  In it Walter Smith had laid into them and wanted them to regain their focus by;

• Warning that any player caught nightclubbing will face disciplinary action.
• Blasting the use of Twitter accounts.
• Barring his players from posting any inflammatory remarks.
• Ordering them to keep their private lives off the front pages.

The reason I have picked up on this headline is after numerous reports about players being banned from social networking sites over the last year or so.  Examples that spring to mind are of the European Ryder Cup team being banned by Colin Montgomery from using twitter just before the event started.

The players then came out and said they hadn’t been banned.  I for one followed the event on twitter with a list that included Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.  The following day Montgomery came out to clear up the comments and said that it was in relation to what is said in the inner sanctum that should be kept quiet and there was no ban.

We also had the ‘Manchester United Ban Twitter’ headline in January 2010.  For one I cannot believe that Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney would have twitter accounts (would they…really?) and with the amount of fake accounts out there it is more likely they were taken down for that reason.

Not long after it came out that Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) was indeed on twitter and has not been banned from using the site.  Until recently he has been the only United player to be using it until he was joined recently by Nani (@luisnani).  Advised what to do on social networking sites I hope so, banned no.

One final example just to hammer home my point.  After Kevin Pieterson was caught out making a not so pleasant remark about being dropped from the Twenty20 squad it was widely reported that players would be banned from twitter whilst away on England duty.

For anyone who was following the Ashes down under over the Christmas period you will know that this certainly wasn’t the case with KP (@kevinpp24), Stuart broad (@StuartBroad8), Tim Bresnan (@TimBresnan) and many others using it to keep fans up-to-date with what was happening away from the pitch.

In short it seems that we love that twitter brings us closer to the athletes than we have been since the days of Booby Moore and George Best and most journalists worth their salt use it to find and announce breaking news.  BUT some are still obsessed with pushing them away and creating a climate of fear amongst authorities about players having some freedom of expression.

When the media whips up a storm about a player saying something out of turn, no matter how quickly it is retracted then it all over the front and back pages.  What choice do the governing bodies and clubs have but to react and appear to be at least doing something about it?

The NGB’s and clubs should be helping players and offering some guidance/training on how to use them for good.  As we see in the US with the NBA where the players are helping to spread news about the sport and bringing more fans in, should this not be the same with football, cricket, rugby and other sports?

Rant over but I hope you get my point!